Tourist arrivals in Morocco up 6.6% by end of June

Nearly 5.4 million tourists visited Morocco in the first half of 2019, up by 6.6% compared to the same period a year earlier, said the Tourism Observatory.

Foreign tourists' arrivals increased by 6.2%, while those of Moroccan expatriates rose by 7.1% by the end of June, the Source added.

The main tourism markets witnessed an increase in arrivals during this period, particularly Italy (+12%), France (+9%), Spain (+8%), Germany (+8%), the Netherlands (+7%), Belgium (+6%) and the United Kingdom (+6%), the Observatory pointed out in its latest note on tourism statistics in Morocco.

Nights spent in classified hotels posted a rise of 5% at the end of June, said the same source, noting that the two tourist destinations of Marrakech and Agadir generated 58% of hotel nights in the first half of 2019.

Marrakech and Agadir posted increases of 8% and 4%, respectively, said the Observatory, noting that Tangier (+11%) and Fez (+4%) also posted good performances.